Everton will move into the top half of the Premier League table with a win on Tuesday night and naturally, given the plight of their opponents, I think they’ll get one at Villa Park.
Success in midweek would also see the Toffees edge above Liverpool in the English top flight, albeit perhaps only for 24 hours, and their manager Roberto Martinez must be confident of leaving Birmingham with three points.
Everton kick-started their faltering season at the end of January with a 3-0 FA Cup success at Carlisle and they are now into the last eight to play Chelsea having followed up that win in the North with a 2-0 triumph on the South Coast versus Bournemouth.
Sandwiched between that pair of cup victories were a brace of Premier League wins, both also by a 3-0 score line when easing by Newcastle and Stoke, and the Spaniard will be hoping his side’s good form continues ahead of the quarter-final with the Blues.
Having been rested this weekend, Everton were due to face their near neighbours Liverpool who were others engaged at Wembley, the Goodison Park club should be ready to roll against the Premier League’s bottom club and the odds compilers have underestimated their chances.
Aston Villa possesses so little quality throughout that the upcoming visitors needn’t necessarily be anywhere near their best if they are to prevail and West Ham then lie in wait on Merseyside this Saturday.
Four wins in their last five outings, conceding just one goal in those fixtures, indicates that Everton are finally coming to the boil and the only reason that run was broken came virtue of an extremely unfortunate defeat to West Brom on home soil.
Everton battered the Baggies only to lose by a singe goal but I am not expecting history to be repeated and the selection can land the spoils with ease.
Villa have now won just three of 27 matches this season and the end of term cannot come soon enough.
3pts Back Everton (vs. Aston Villa) @ 4/5 v(arious)